1 ELOWAH FALLS, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
Hike a mile through Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar and you’ll happen upon one of this scenic area’s 77 gems: 289-foot Elowah Falls. 541-308-1700,
2 ALAMERE FALLS, Point Reyes National Seashore, California
This 35-foot-high cascade splashes directly onto the beach—see it by hiking 3.5 miles along cliffs overlooking the Pacific. 415-464-5137,
3 GOOSEBERRY FALLS, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota
On the Gooseberry River, which hits the north shore of Lake Superior, this series of five falls runs icy cold. 218-834-3855,
4 LOWER CALF CREEK FALLS, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Utah
Hikers pass Native American rock art before reaching the 126-foot falls and its crystal-clear pond. 435-826-5499
5 HIILAWE FALLS, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii
Drive a mile down the supersteep Saddle Road for the payoff: a sky-high faucet rushing over black lava rock. The more than 1,000-foot freefall is Hawaii’s tallest. 800-648-2441